Package and letter seal.



R'. ARCHER.

PACKAGE AND LETTER SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1908.

982,562. Patented JaIL24, 1911.

amwnto'a Rulison Archer. Mitnmu G 5 E61; W m

r11: NORRIS PEIERS 60., WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RULISON ARCHER, OF BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA.

PACKAGE AND LETTER SEAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RULIsON Anormn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bluelield, in the county of Mercer and State of WVestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packageand Letter Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seals, and more particularly to a seal adaptedfor use upon packages or letters and having a fugitive portion thereon,which fugitive portion will be disarranged if the package sealedtherewith is opened at the point of sealing.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a seal which may bemanipulated in a similar manner to postage stamps and which will beadapted for use upon any form of envelop or upon packages, wherein tyingcord is used.

A further object is to provide a novel form of sealing means which willbe complete in itself and which will be less eX pensive, as well asincreasing the convenience necessitating its use, over the usualdestruetible seal incorporated upon the flap of an envelop.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, and it will be understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which likereference characters designate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a view of the rear side of an envelop sealed with myimproved device, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device engaged over thetying string of a package, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the sealenlarged, Fig. 4 is a similar View of a modified form of seal.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown an'envelop 10 havinga sealing flap 11 pasted down and having my improved seal A thereon. Theseal may be rectangular as shown in Fig. 1 or circular as shown in Fig.2, but it is obvious that the same may be of any other desirable shapeand may be utilized for sealing envelops, packages having a tying cordor adapted for various other uses to which a seal is applicable.

In the use of the seal illustrated in Fig. 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. November 25, 1908.

Patented Jan. 24., 1911.

Serial No. 464,412.

it will be seen that the paper base 20 is always disposed outwardly whenengaged upon a package so that casual destruction of the seal by thecontact of rain or other form of moisture in small quantities isobviated. However, it will be found thoroughly eflieient and the designwill be quickly destroyed if the seal is softened sufficiently andremoved.

In the detailed illustration of my improved seal, as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, the body portion 15 is constructed of paper or othersuitable material, upon one side of which a coating of adhesive material13 is secured and upon the opposite side of which a coating of solublematerial 16 is secured, which is preferably fusible at a low temperatureand is provided with an outline 17, which is of soluble ink or othersimilar matter adapted to be affected by moisture or heat and which maybe impressed thereupon in any desired design.

The seal illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises the base 20, preferably oftransparent material and upon the inner face of which there is a coatingof adhesive material 21, which has a suitable design 22 printed thereonand outwardly of which there is a second coating of adhesive 23. Theadhesive 21 and 23 are preferably fusible at a low temperature and itwill thus be apparent that application of either heat or moisture to anenvelop having this seal engaged thereon, will tend to completelydestroy the outlines of the design 22, and it will therefore beimpossible to secure the fugitive design upon a tem orary support whilethe base is removed and the letter opened, fresh adhesive being utilizedto se cure the base and design in place again.

To facilitate the manufacture of either form of the device, the adhesivemay be of the same material as the soluble and fusible material on theopposite side but in the use of either seal it is desirable to moistenthe surface to which the seal is to be applied, rather than the sealitself and if desired directions for its application may be furnished tofacilitate its use and increase the commercial value thereof.

Upon the fugitive surface provided by the above construction, a suitabledesign, advertisement or other outline may be printed as indicated at 17and 22 and if desired a solid coating of color may be given.

It will thus be seen that upon the application of either heat ormoisture to the envelop that the perfect form of the outlines Will bedestroyed and blurred, sothat ready detection of mutilation can be had.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamp seal comprising a supporting portion of fiexible i-basematerial, a:coat1ng;

said stamp seal carrying adhesive material,

as and forthe purposes indicated.

2. A stamp seal comprising a body por- ;tion,:.a. portion; of-materialupon one side thereof fugitive under the action of heat or moisture, adesign printed upon the fugitive material, and adhesive material oversaid design: and adapted to be secured upon ;an:=

article to be sealed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.RULISQN ARCHER. Witnesses:

G. BLOEKSTOCK'; W Li THORNTON?

